Morning came without a sound. There was no sunrise breaking through. The light was already there settled, as if it had never needed to arrive. I opened my eyes. The tavern ceiling remained the same: dark beams, aged wood, the faint creak of the structure settling into itself. Everything in place. That no longer reassured me. I rose slowly and noticed some of them were already awake. Aldric sat at the edge of his bed, sharpening his blade with steady, almost ritual movements. Serah stood by the window, motionless, staring outside with an expression that refused to settle into anything clear. Maelor checked his belongings in silence, methodical. Eldran was seated… but something about him wasn't entirely there.
—Get up —I said, without raising my voice—. We need to talk.
No protests. Just looks. We went downstairs. Garron Bale was already behind the bar, as if he hadn't moved all night. He watched us without speaking as we took a large table. The image of Father Halven still lingered in my mind. I decided it wasn't the moment to bring it up. I placed both hands on the wood.
—I want this clear —I said—. What do you expect from this?
Silence. Heavy. Suffocating.
—We're in a place we don't understand —I continued—. Surrounded by things that follow no logic. Agramor is playing with us. So are the creatures of this valley —I looked at each of them—. I'll ask again, and I want answers: what is the objective?
Aldric spoke first.
—To get out.
No embellishment. I gave a slight nod.
—How?
The grinding stone went silent. Aldric set the sword on the table.
—By killing the Devil. The word hung there.
Serah turned toward him.
—It's not unreasonable —she said—. Everything here revolves around him. The valley, the creatures, the rules… If Agramor falls, all of this should fall with him.
—"Should" —Maelor repeated, dryly—. That's not a plan. That's a gamble.
Serah held his gaze.
—Do you have a better one?
Maelor interlaced his fingers.
—Not yet. But facing him head-on… is exactly what he wants.
—Then what do you propose? —Aldric asked.
Maelor looked up.
—Understand the game before trying to break it.
No challenge in his tone. Only calculation. I turned to Eldran.
—And you?
He didn't answer immediately. His eyes took a moment to find me, as if they first had to remember where I was.
—I don't know —he said at last. The silence tightened.
—You don't know… —I repeated— or you don't want to say.
He blinked. Something shifted. Slightly.
—We're not asking the right questions —he murmured.
Aldric scoffed.
—We're trapped in a valley ruled by a demon. The question seems pretty clear.
Eldran shook his head.
—No. That's the consequence —his gaze searched something in the void—. The question is… why we're here. What this place is. What it means to "be" in the valley… —a pause— Or if we even are.
The air thickened.
—What brought us… and for what. If we don't understand that —he added— killing Agramor might change nothing.
This silence was different.
—And in the meantime? —Aldric said, irritation creeping in—. We sit around thinking while this place devours us?
Eldran didn't respond. He was there… but not with us. I watched him a moment longer than necessary. Then I nodded.
—We move forward —I said—. But I'm not ignoring that.
Maelor held my gaze.
—So?
—We need answers.
The silence held… until Serah spoke.
—What about you?
I didn't look up immediately.
—What about me?
—What do you think? —she insisted—. You question us, push us to decide… but you say nothing.
—She's right —Aldric added.
Maelor stayed quiet, but didn't look away. All eyes on me. I exhaled slowly.
—I think… this has happened before. Not us —I clarified—. But this. The valley. The game. Others before us. Others who thought the same. Who looked for a quick way out… or a logical answer.
Aldric frowned.
—You're saying we're replaceable?
—I'm saying we're predictable. Agramor doesn't react —I continued—. He anticipates every move because he's already seen every path.
Maelor gave a slight nod.
—Then what? —Serah asked—.Are we doomed to repeat it?
—No —I said—. But we will fall if we keep playing the way he expects.
Aldric narrowed his eyes.
—And what does that mean?
—That we go against the signs. Against the obvious. Against what "should" be done —I looked at Serah—. Against what makes sense.
Maelor tilted his head.
—Force an error in the system.
—No —I corrected—. Be the error. A path that isn't written —I added—. One he can't anticipate.
—And what path is that? —Eldran asked. No hesitation. No irony.
—I'd rather not say.
The silence shifted.
—Now we're keeping secrets? —Aldric scoffed.
—I don't trust who might be listening.
That landed.
—Convenient —Eldran said, tilting his head.
There was no malice in his eyes. But there was challenge.
—Especially —he added— coming from someone who still hasn't shown his true face.
The air tightened. Everyone waited for conflict. I didn't give it to them. Any answer… would've been confirmation. The conversation dissolved without resolution. Just a shared direction, born of necessity. Aldric and Serah walked off together, speaking in low voices. Maelor slipped out of the tavern without a sound. Eldran remained a moment longer, watching me. Then he stood and left. Something stayed behind. Something invisible, sitting where he had been. Watching me. I kept staring at nothing. Serah returned not long after.
—Captain —her voice pulled me back —Your past...
I exhaled through my nose.
—Again.
—Yes.
I looked at her.
—There's nothing more than what I told you.
She narrowed her eyes.
—I don't believe you.
Not impulsive. Tired.
—I have nothing else to give —I said—. What I remember… is that.
—And the rest? —she pressed—. Your name? Your origin? Your people?
—Empty.
—That's not normal.
—Nothing here is.
—No —she said—. But you… —there was sadness now— There has to be more —I didn't answer —. You can't lead us if we don't know who you are.
—I never asked to lead you.
That hit. She shook her head and left. The silence she left behind was worse than the argument.
—Women… —a voice said from the bar—. Always looking for answers where it's inconvenient.
I turned slightly. Garron Bale watched me with that unreadable half-smile.
—You think so?
He shrugged.
—I think the problem isn't the question… it's the timing.
I approached.
—I need answers.
Garron nodded slowly.
—That much is obvious.
I leaned on the bar.
—I won't find them here.
—Maybe you will —he said after a pause—. There's someone… not inside the village.
—Who?
Garron picked up another mug, began wiping it.
—The Arcanist. Lives beyond Valebrun. Alone. Doesn't bother anyone… and no one bothers him.
—Why?
A faint smile.
—Let's just say… without the Arcanist, there'd be no valley, no Devil… and no Captain. That landed heavier than anything else.
—Is he still alive?
Garron laughed.
—In this valley… "alive" is a flexible word.
—I need to find him.
He gestured vaguely north.
—Beyond Mount Jara.
—Then that's where we go next.
Garron kept cleaning the mug.
—Captain… —he said without looking— If you're looking for answers… make sure you're ready for them.
I didn't reply. I already knew what he meant. Some answers don't set you free. They just move you into a different cage.